Covid-19 indoors: More than face masks

-
Covid-19: More than face masks

Source: Unsplash

Recent research brought to light by Shelly Miller and authored by Dr Morawska, with the title, "Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The world should face the reality," has 'raised more concerns about airborne transmissions of COVID-19. 
Dr. Morawska found out that no country has taken into serious considerations the airborne transfer of the virus indoors; including restaurants, malls, offices and the likes.

Source: Twitter 


According to a previous research carried out in China two months ago, a group of ten people in a particular section were subject to an air conditioning system and unknowingly, one of them was infected with the virus. It was later found out that these other 9 people were infected, and others within the mall in areas without air conditioning systems were not infected. 
Source: Twitter 


According to Treehugger, an Architect, Justin Bere noted that "it recommends avoiding central recirculation during SARS CoV-2 episodes and closing the recirculation dampers, even if there are return air filters. As the REHVA guidance says, these don’t normally filter out viruses." This is because scientists have found out that large droplets from sneezing can travel as far as 2 metres without any air movement. Moreover, small particles (<5 microns), generated by coughing and sneezing, may stay airborne for hours according to the REHVA guidance and can travel long distances. 
"A Coronavirus particle is only 0.8 to 0.16 microns diameter so there could be many virus particles in a 5-micron droplet floating around in the air. - Treehugger

Source: Treehugger 

 
 It is quite complicated, according to the research, to detect these harmful droplets in the air. Nevertheless, there are measures to minimize the spread, of course, besides the very popular face masks.

Treehugger has listed some measures based on these research to help minimize the airborne spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

Ventilation:
Ventilation rates should be increased by system modifications. However, they acknowledge that "this is not via a simple 'flick of a switch'" as these systems are designed for each building and are complex systems. This is a call to architects to move to the traditional system of ventilation within a space.

Avoid air recirculation:
This was recommended also by the European and American engineering associations. As for split systems (like the one in that restaurant in China) and like the ones found all over North America, which have no fresh air intakes at all, these should just be turned off or supplemented by lots of fresh air through opening windows. Again, this will be very hard in summer in the hotter parts of the country.


Air cleaning and disinfection devices may be beneficial:
This includes Ultraviolet Light (UVC) systems as discussed earlier. Also, portable air filters and cleaners could help.
Minimize the number of people within the same indoor environment in an epidemic. This is a tough one; nobody really knows what the number of people in a given space is safe and what isn't. But their empirical guideline makes sense: "In a school or a supermarket, for example, if the number of infected students or shoppers is low, and the ventilation rate is high, the risk of airborne transmission can be low." Crowding a bunch of people into a subway or bus is another story.

Culled from Treehugger 

Avoid crowded places:
This of course is not news. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is an issue to be taken with all seriousness but without fear. There is an inevitable path: It will end.
But until then, we will do everything in our power to slow it down. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Technologies that can save the environment

-
Image
Technologies that can save the environment  Dear reader,  Do you remember the time before Facebook, or Instagram or Twitter? Not so much? Well, neither do I. Can you imagine a better future than the present one? One where you can do more than just pop up in your neighbor's house in your flying car? "In truth, the importance of technology is nothing new, it is an old, old story." - Gary Hoover Technology, has transcended beyond just 'the better way of doing things' into something more along the lines of 'A Nightmare in Silicon Valley' story.  But, "The planet is in jeopardy!" is a statement that has become a second language, so much that virtually all we know is the problem and not the solution. Yes, these are perilous times, but within them lay the greatest opportunities. "Every student graduating college (or still in school) feels some sort of uncertainty, regardless of their major: will I find a job? Should I move to a big city? What k
Read more
-
Image
Pesticides and the Biodiversity  of Bees and Butterflies Do pesticides have any negative effect(s) on biodiversity?  While the main function of pesticides is to control pests, they still have negative effects on biodiversity,  both in the short and long run. Pesticides toxicity have the capacity to change habitats and disrupt our food chain. In fact, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food stated that, pesticides can persist in the environment for decades and pose a global threat to the entire ecological system upon which food production depends. Their excessive use and misuse can also cause soil contamination and destroy beneficial insects population. What do these mean for bees and butterflies, two important pollinating insects?   I mage Source: Pixabay Pesticides generally refer to substance that kill pests or prevent the damage a pest or weed can cause. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a pesticide is any mixture or substance intende
Read more